Dr. Margaret Graham to Depart as Faculty Athletics Representative

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics wants to thank Dr. Margaret Graham, who is retiring as professor and chair of the department of anthropology, for an impactful three-year term as the faculty athletics representative (FAR).

“I want to personally thank Dr. Graham for her efforts on behalf of our student-athletes and the entire department over the last three years,” UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “Dr. Graham developed countless meaningful relationships with coaches and student-athletes. She rarely missed an athletics event and will no doubt continue to be one of the biggest fans of our student-athletes. We are thankful for her service during one of the most transformative times in our department’s history, during which we have experienced exponential growth, and we look forward to continuing to see her in the stands on game day.”

Graham was originally designated by UTRGV President Guy Bailey to serve as a liaison between the university and the athletics department, and as a representative of the university in conference and NCAA affairs on July 7, 2021.

During her time as FAR, Graham served as chair of the athletics council and a member of the mental health task force while advising the student-athlete advisory committee. She monitored the student-athlete experience and was involved in their personal and academic welfare. She also assisted in preparing any requests for waivers or appeals regarding NCAA or conference legislation.

“As an anthropologist, I am trained to be adaptable when I find myself in new places and situations. Little prepared me, however, for my rapid immersion in the world of intercollegiate athletics when Dr. Bailey appointed me as the UTRGV Faculty Athletics Representative in fall 2021. I am so thankful he did,” Graham said. “Serving as the FAR and working closely with our student-athletes, coaches, and the entire athletics department team has been a privilege and joy. I am so pleased to have been part of this period of transformational growth, and will miss it tremendously, but I leave knowing that the student-athletes will be in good hands with my successor. Thank you all for this amazing opportunity at such a pivotal moment in college athletics. I’ll see you at the games.”

Graham has been working at the university since 2005, when she joined legacy institution The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) as an assistant professor in the department of psychology and anthropology. She was promoted to associate professor in 2010 and became assistant dean of the college of social and behavioral sciences in 2013. She also simultaneously served as an adjunct associate professor in the department of health promotion & community health sciences at Texas A&M from 2012-15.

In 2015, with the start of UTRGV, Graham took on the role of coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Anthropology programs. She was promoted to professor in 2016 and took over as interim chair of the department of anthropology in 2019. She became chair in 2020.

Among Graham’s honors and distinctions are the 2014 College Faculty Excellence Award for Mentoring and the 2009 Provost’s Award for Latin American Studies. She was a member of the Leadership Team for the UTRGV ADVANCE Program from 2012-18.

Graham earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with Distinction while also completing a certificate in Latin American Studies at Indiana University in 1980. She completed a Master of Arts in Anthropology at Michigan State in 1985 before earning her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Michigan State in 1991.

UTRGV will name a new faculty athletics representative in the near future.